This was a puzzle which to all appearances was a fairly average
Listener, but it held a trap for unwary solvers, reminiscent of A Decoy
by Ark. We were told that misprints in some clues would spell out
thematic material which would allow solvers to resolve clashing letters
in the grid – all very standard Listener fare.

As it turned out, because of an ambiguity in the misprinted letter in
one clue, the misprinted letters in clues spelled out either THE
LADY’S NOT FOR TURNING, which comes from the famous conference
speech Margaret Thatcher, or THE LADY’S NOT FOR BURNING, the
title of a play by Christopher Fry. One set of clashing letters on the
NW-SE diagonal spelled out MAGGIE THATCHER, and the other set spelled
out CHRISTOPHER FRY. Therefore, solvers had to decide which set was to
be chosen.

The key to making the correct decision came from careful reading of the
puzzle’s preamble. We were told that the grid would provide
confirmation of the correct choices. Examination of the grid showed
that the letters in the SW-NE diagonal spelled out BIRTH CENTENARY,
which allowed solvers to deduce that CHRISTOPHER FRY had to be entered
in the NW-SE diagonal. The puzzle was timed to coincide with the
centenary of his birth (18th December 1907).

Gregson wonders how many solvers will have made the incorrect choice of
MAGGIE THATCHER, and whether or not Schadenfreude will be feeling
malicious pleasure in their misfortune.